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Mikel Arteta makes Granit Xhaka transfer statement as Arsenal vs Chelsea absence explained
Granit Xhaka was not included in the Arsenal squad to face Chelsea amid transfer speculation.
Mikel Arteta says he hopes Granit Xhaka doesn't leave Arsenal despite the midfielder's desire to join Hertha Berlin. Reports in Germany have claimed the Swiss star has reached an agreement with Hertha on personal terms.
Xhaka’s agent Jose Noguera told BLICK: “We have reached an agreement with Hertha BSC and would like to go to Berlin.
“We have told Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi & technical director Edu Gaspar that he wants to leave the club, as well as the new coach Mikel Arteta.
“Arsenal was informed about all the steps, the player and Hertha are clear. It's only about the transfer fee of the clubs.”
Arteta has spoken of his desire to keep Xhaka and was asked again about the player after Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Emirates.
He said: “I hope he doesn’t leave.”
Arteta then confirmed the reason for Xhaka's absence in the squad, saying: "He played at Bournemouth, he played really well, he was very committed, he played a really good game.
"After the game, he started to feel ill. He had a temperature and he wasn't feeling good.
"The last two days he's been in bed. That's why he's not been selected."
Arsenal conceded twice in the final 10 minutes against Chelsea to lose at home for the fourth consecutive time.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno made a crucial error which led to Jorginho equalising and then Tammy Abraham scored the winner.
Leno has now made more errors leading to goals than any other Premier League player since August 2018 - seven.
And former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray explained what the German did wrong.
He said: “I said before how much I rated Leno, but he'll be very disappointed. He comes for it and decides to come and punch.
"He should have an open hand as I believe if he does, he would have got a touch on it. Leno has to keep his concentration.
“He decides to come and punch it to protect the goal.
"If he opens his hand, he has that slight bit more, an inch which would've allowed him to get to the ball. He's panicked at a crucial moment."